Strategic Communications and Media Manager
Strategic Communications and Media Manager
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. MAP is the leading UK charity delivering health and medical care to those worst affected by conflict, occupation and displacement, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Lebanon.
To lead the development and delivery of MAP’s strategic communications and media; oversee and shape the organisation’s language and messaging; and manage high-profile and sensitive media relationships.
Responsible for Reporting to
Senior Media and Communications Officer Head of Communications
Key Internal Relationships
Advocacy and Campaigns Team; Fundraising Team; West Bank Team; Lebanon Team, Gaza Team; Senior Management Team.
Key External relationships
Journalists, media and advocacy coalitions, NGO partners, VIPs/artists.
To lead the development and delivery of MAP’s strategic communications and media; oversee and shape the organisation’s language and messaging; and manage high-profile and sensitive media relationships.
Responsible for Reporting to
Senior Media and Communications Officer Head of Communications
Key Internal Relationships
Advocacy and Campaigns Team; Fundraising Team; West Bank Team; Lebanon Team, Gaza Team; Senior Management Team.
Key External relationships
Journalists, media and advocacy coalitions, NGO partners, VIPs/artists.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic communications
- Lead the development, implementation, and management of MAP’s strategic communications and support public engagement initiatives.
- Oversee the organisation’s language and messaging frameworks, including the maintenance of the language guide and key messaging documents to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with MAP’s mission and communications objectives.
- Develop, implement and manage integrated, cross channel communications plans and strategies.
- Bring a prospector’s mindset, spotting openings, anticipating debate moments and positioning MAP ahead of the curve rather than reacting to events.
- Support the organisation in contributing to crisis communications planning and responding to mitigate reputational risks.
Media management
- Lead on the development and delivery of high-impact content to raise MAP’s profile and influence, and to drive public and supporter engagement.
- Actively seek out and develop opportunities for MAP to shape public, political and sector debates, including through opinion pieces, broadcast opportunities, podcasts, industry and specialist media, conferences and high-level events.
- Manage MAP’s Senior Media and Communications Officer, fostering professional growth, confidence and judgement. Conduct regular one to ones, appraisals, and support their work.
- Manage the production, review and sign off of all media materials including press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor, media updates, and other external communications content where necessary. Ensure efficient delegation where required.
- Lead media engagement, including briefing spokespeople and coordinating MAP’s responses to media inquiries, ensuring delegation where required.
- Provide high-quality briefing, messaging development, and media preparation for senior staff engaging externally.
- Maintain and build strong, trusted relationships with journalists and editors across UK and international media.
- Alert MAP’s staff to imminent news and current affairs stories, and recommend communications actions or restraint as appropriate.
Advocacy and campaigns communications
- Develop strategic communications plans for MAP’s advocacy and campaigning initiatives (such as, party conferences, parliamentary and UN engagement), identifying media opportunities, and ensuring key messaging is aligned with advocacy objectives and reaches targeted audiences.
- Work closely with MAP’s Advocacy and Campaigns Team to amplify campaign impact through coordinated media and supporter-facing communications.
- Strengthen MAP’s role in advocacy coalitions by leading collaborative media and communications outputs with partners.
- Help ensure that communities MAP supports have a voice in campaigns, that their perspectives shape messaging and that communications do not expose staff, partners or communities to undue risk.
- Advise on the strategic communication opportunities to profile and disseminate policy and research outputs.
General responsibilities
- Support the mission, ethos and values of MAP.
- Support advocacy and research functions as required.
- Manage external suppliers providing design, printing and other support as required.
- Represent MAP at external meetings including with media, partners and supporters, and deliver talks when required.
- Carry out fact-checking, proof-reading/copy editing and other administrative tasks as needed.
- Carry out other associated duties as may arise in line with the broad remit of the position.
- Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
- Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience and knowledge
- Substantial, relevant and recent experience of communications at a national and/or international level within humanitarian, healthcare or human rights organisations.
- Strong track record of developing and implementing communications strategies to achieve advocacy and fundraising objectives.
- Experience in overseeing organisational language and messaging frameworks in politically sensitive contexts.
- Strong experience in media relations, including briefing spokespeople, drafting press releases, reactive and proactive media handling, and securing media coverage.
- Understanding of digital communications and campaign tools (e.g., petitions, email campaigns) and audience engagement strategies.
- Experience working with fundraising/marketing teams, consultants and agencies.
- Strong understanding of political risk, reputational management and crisis communications.
- Knowledge and understanding of the political context and of development and humanitarian issues in Palestine and Lebanon and the wider Middle East is desirable.
Skills and abilities
- Strong communicator (written and oral) and persuasive storyteller.
- In depth understanding of how media can be a tool for influence and to achieve change.
- Confident interpersonal, influencing and relationship management skills, and an ability to pitch stories persuasively to media and other targets.
- Creativity and a willingness to innovate.
- Fluent written and spoken English.
- Ability to prioritise and ability to deal with competing demands in a fast-paced working environment.
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently, with sound judgement and discretion.
- Keen attention to detail, copy/proof editing and quality control on all outputs.
- Working knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.
Personal attributes and other requirements
- Commitment to human rights, international justice, and promoting Palestinian participation in communications and campaigns.
- Able to travel extensively within London and the UK and willingness to travel to Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory occasionally as required.
- Able to work occasionally on evenings and weekends, with time off in lieu.
- Commitment to advancing anti-racism, anti-discrimination and equal opportunities.
About Medical Aid for Palestinians
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works in partnership with Palestinian communities to uphold their rights to health and dignity. We do this by developing effective, sustainable and locally-led healthcare services, providing medical aid during emergencies, and campaigning to break down the barriers to Palestinian health and healthcare today and for the future.
MAP has a zero tolerance policy with regard to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by MAP‘s personnel against the people they serve. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected candidates will be required to comply with MAP's PSEA Policy at all times. Selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks against their past behaviour related to sexual exploitation and abuse, and may be required to provide additional information further on in the selection process.
MAP has a zero tolerance policy with regard to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by MAP‘s personnel against the people they serve. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected candidates will be required to comply with MAP's PSEA Policy at all times. Selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks against their past behaviour related to sexual exploitation and abuse, and may be required to provide additional information further on in the selection process.
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